Sheet working machine and feed control apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A high speed sheet working machine and a feed control apparatus therefor which is operative to precisely control the amount of material to be cut from a strip, fed from a roll, to form sheets with edges thereof in precise registry, as if stacked and trimmed all at one time. The feed control apparatus holds the strip in firm engagement with a feed roller which is rotatably mounted on a drive shaft engaged by an overrunning clutch to permit only feeding rotation of the feed roller, whereby the strip is intermittently advanced by the feed roller. Brake shoes engage discs on the feed roller for stopping same after a selected feeding advancement of the strip to avoid overruns and underruns of the selected feeding advancement.

O United States Patent 1151 3,64,220

Blair 5] 23, 1972 541 SHEET WORKING MACHINE AND 2,825,403 3/1958Davidson et a1. ..83/245 x FEED CQNTRQL APPARATUS 2,721,612 10/1965Almgren ..83/236 X TPEREFOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [721'lnvenmrl 0 Blair T0Peka, Kans- 1,020,994 2/1966 Great Britain ..s3/245[73] Assignee: Brackett Stripping Machine (30., Inc.,

Topeka, Kans Pnmary Exammer-Andrew R. Juhasz Attorney-Fishburn, Gold &Litman [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1970 21 AppL NO.Z 15,691 [571 ABSWCT v A highspeed sheet working machine and a feed control ap- [52] U 8 CI 83/21483/245 paratus therefor which is operative to precisely control the83/2'64 83/273 226/137 5 amount of material to be cut from a strip, fedfrom a roll, to [5 I 1 1m Cl B2621 5/20 B65h 17/10 form sheets withedges thereof in precise registry, as if stacked 58] Field i 214 5 245257 and trimmed all at one time. The feed control apparatus holds 5 thestrip in firm engagement with a feed roller which is rotatably mountedon a drive shaft engaged by an overrunning clutch to permit only feedingrotation of the feed roller, [56] References cued whereby the strip isintermittently advanced by the feed roller. UNITED STATES PATENTS Brakeshoes engage discs on the feed roller for stopping same after a selectedfeeding advancement of the strip to avoid 2,564,434 8/ 195 l Holt..83/245 X overruns and undernms ofthe Selected feeding advancemem2,839,138 6/1958 W1lhelm ..83/264 2,710,565 6/1955 Schroeder ..83/236 Xl 1 Claims, 6 Drawing figures PATENTEDHAY 23 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 vINVENTOR.

Boyd C. Blair ATTORNEYS SHEET WORKING MACHINE AND FEED CONTROL APPARATUSTHEREFOR The present invention relates to sheet working machines andmore particularly to a feed control apparatus which is operative toprecisely control the amount of material to be cut from a strip to formsheets with edges thereof in precise registry.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a highspeed sheet working machine operative to perform sheet workingoperations, such as punching, shearing and the like wherein the machinehas a feed control apparatus which is operative to precisely control theamount of material fed into a sheet working portion of the machinewithin which the material is to be cut to form sheets having edgesthereof in precise registry, as if stacked and trimmed all at one time;to provide such a sheet working machine and a feed control apparatustherefor having novel driving and braking means for driving and stoppinga drive roller after a strip has been advanced the desired length tothereby avoid overruns and underruns of the selected length to be fedinto the sheet working machine; to provide such a feed control apparatushaving novel adjusting means for adjusting the selected length of stripadvancement into the sheet working portion of the machine; to providesuch a feed control apparatus having cooling means associated with thebraking means to maintain same at a sub stantially constant temperatureto prevent overheating of the braking means, thereby maintaining asubstantially constant braking action and avoiding overruns andunderruns resulting from changes in braking action; to provide such afeed control apparatus having an unrestricted intermittent feedingaction which supplies a precise selected length of a strip to be cut offwherein a plurality of such cut of? portions of the strip will stackwith the edges thereof in precise registry; and to provide such a sheetworking machine and feed control apparatus therefor which is economicalto manufacture, easily and precisely adjustable, positive and direct inoperation and particularly well suited for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with accompanyingdrawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one side of a sheet working machineand a sheet feed control apparatus therefor embodying features of thepresent invention with portions broken away to better illustrate thecomponent parts.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the other side of the sheet workingmachine with portions broken away to better illustrate the componentparts.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the sheet working machine showingthe strip feed control apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sheet workingmachine taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of an adjustmentdevice for adjusting the length of strip fed into the sheet workingmachine.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 66, FIG.3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a high speed sheet workingmachine which performs operations, such as punching, shearing, slitting,creasing, and the like. The sheet working machine 1 has a strip feedcontrol apparatus 2 mounted thereon for accurately controlling theamount of a strip 3 fed into the sheet working machine 1 for processingtherein. The strip 3 is mounted on a roll 4 spaced from the machine 1.The feed control apparatus 2 is operative to precisely control theamount of the strip 3 which is intermittently fed into the machine 1,wherein, when the strip 3 is cut into sheets, their edges will bealignable in precise registry, as if stacked and trimmed all at onetime.

A strip delivering structure 5 is spaced from the sheet Working machine1 and is adapted to feed the strip 3 thereto at a substantially constantspeed which is coordinated with the operation of the strip feed controlapparatus 2 and the sheet working operations in the sheet workingmachine 1. In the illustrated structure, the strip delivering structure5 includes a frame 6 having a suitable drive motor 7 mounted thereon forsuitably driving a rotatably mounted shaft 8 having the roll 4 thereon,as by means of sheaves and belts or chains and sprockets.

It is important that the feed control apparatus 2 not be required toovercome tension in the strip 3 or any other resistance to intermittentmovement of the strip 3 into the sheet working machine 1. Therefore, thestrip delivering structure 5 is operated in coordination with the feedcontrol apparatus 2 thereby providing sufficient slack in the strip 3whereby the strip is not placed in tension during the intermittentfeeding thereof into the sheet working machine 1.

The strip 3 is unsupported between the roll 4 and the feed controlapparatus 2 whereby the strip 3 is free to assume a curvilinear paththerebetween and the curvilinear path has a length sufficiently greaterthan the straight line distance therebetween so that the intermittentfeeding of the strip 3 does not take up the entire slack in the strip.

The sheet working machine 1 is mounted on a frame 9 having a base member10 and a pair of transversely spaced upright walls 11 and 12 suitablysecured thereto, as by welding, and extending upwardly from the basemember 10. Suitable bracing members 13, such as beams, channels, angles,pipes and the like, extend between and are suitably secured to the walls11 and 12 preferably adjacent their upper ends and at intermediatepoints above the base member 10 to form a substantially rigid structureto support the feed control apparatus 2 and other sheet workingapparatus, as later described, mounted on the machine 1, such as forpunching and shearing a portion of the strip 3 fed into the sheetworking machine 1.

Suitable power means, such as a drive motor 14, is operatively connectedto the feed control apparatus 2 to drive same to intermittently feed aselected amount of the strip 3 into the machine 1. In the illustratedstructure, the drive motor 14 is mounted on one of the upright walls,for example wall 12, and rotates a motor driven shaft 15 extendingtherefrom with a portion of the shaft 15 extending beyond the uprightwall 12. An elongate main shaft 16 has opposite end portions thereofrotatably mounted in the walls 11 and 12, as in suitable bearings (notshown), and a large pulley 17 is mounted on the end portion of the mainshaft 16 which extends beyond the upright wall 12. Suitable powertransmission means, such as a belt 18, extends between a pulley mountedon the motor driven shaft 15 and the large pulley 17 to rotate same. Themain shaft 16 is rotated and the feed control apparatus 2 is operated inresponse to activating suitable clutch means, such as an air clutch 19having the operating elements thereof engageable with the pulley 17 andthe main shaft to transfer the rotation of the pulley 17 to the mainshaft 16.

The feed control apparatus 2 is driven by rotation of the main shaft 16wherein a reciprocable member, such as a rod 20 is operatively connectedto the other end portion of the main shaft 16 adjacent the other wall11, as later described, in a manner whereby the rod 20 is reciprocatedin response to rotation of the main shaft 16. The rod 20 is an elongatemember having a rack gear 21 formed on an end portion thereof. The rackgear 21 engages a spur gear (not shown) fixedly mounted on a drive shaft23 forthe feed control apparatus 2. The drive shaft 23 extendstransversely to the rod 20 whereby each rotation of the main shaft 16 isoperative to rotate the spur gear and the drive shaft 23 a predeterminedamount in one direction and then rotate same a like amount in theopposite direction to return the spur gear and the drive shaft 23 totheir original position.

In the illustrated structure, the drive shaft 23 is rotatably supportedon suitable brackets 24 and 25 which extend outwardly from the framewalls 11 and 12 respectively and have suitable bearings 26 mountedthereon for rotatably receiving and supporting the drive shaft 23adjacent opposite ends thereof.

A feed roller 28 is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 23 and ispositioned substantially transversely to the path of the strip 3 fromthe roll 4. It is necessary that the feed roller 28 rotate in a feedingdirection only, therefore suitable clutch means, such as an overruningclutch 29, is mounted on the drive shaft 23 and operatively connectedthrough its elements to the drive shaft 23 and to the feed roller 28 soas to drive the shaft 23 and roller 28 in one direction for feeding thestrip 3 and rotation of the drive shaft 23 in the opposite directionleaves the feed roller 28 stationary, thereby permitting only forward orfeeding rotation of the feed roller 28 for advancing a precise selectedlength of the strip 3 into the sheet working machine 1.

It is necessary to hold the strip 3 in firm engagement with the feedroller 28 during the feeding rotation thereof for advancing the strip 3a selected distance, therefore adjustable holding arms 30 and 31 aremounted to bear against the strip 3 and hold same in firm engagementwith the feed roller 28. In the illustrated structure, an alongate shaft32 is positioned above the reed roller 28 and has one end of each of theholding arms 30 and 31 pivotally mounted thereon. Opposite ends of theshaft 32 are supported in suitable brackets 33 and 34 extendingoutwardly from the frame walls 11 and 12 respectively and positionedabove the brackets 24 and 25.

It is preferred that the strip 3 be smoothly fed into engagement withthe feed roller 28, therefore an apron 35 is positioned to guide thestrip 3 onto the feed roller 28. In the illustrated structure, arms 36and 37 extend outwardly from the brackets 24 and 25 respectively forsupporting an outer edge of the apron 35. A guide bar or rod 38 isspaced from the outer edge of the apron 35 and has opposite ends thereofadjustably supported on the free ends of the arms 36 and 37. A pluralityof spaced planar guide plates 39 are pivotally mounted on the guide baror rod 38 and positioned to engage the strip 3 and hold same inengagement with the apron 35 thereby guiding the strip 3 into engagementwith the feed roller 28.

The apron 35 is illustrated as a planar member having the outer edgemounted on a brace or support member 40 extending between and suitablysecured to the arms 36 and 37. The inner edge of the apron 35 isadjacent the feed roller 28 and is mounted on a similar brace or supportmember (not shown) also extending between the arms 36 and 37 adjacentthe fixed ends thereof.

It is desirable to provide means for adjusting the stroke or length oftravel of the reciprocable rod to thereby control the amount of rotationof the drive shaft 23 and feed roller 28 to thereby control the selecteddistance for advancing or feeding the strip 3 into the sheet workingportion of the machine 1 for processing same therein. In the illustratedstructure, the operative driving connection between the rotatable poweror main shaft 16 and the drive shaft 23 includes the reciprocable rod 20which has a connecting portion 42 and an end or gear portion having therack gear 21 thereon. One end of the connecting portion 42 is rotatablymounted on an adjustment housing 43 which is mounted on the rotatablemain shaft 16 for rotation therewith. Rotation of the main shaft 16rotates the adjustment housing 43 therewith to move the end or gearportion having the rack gear 21 thereon longitudinally within a gearhousing 44 supported on the drive shaft 23 by suitable bearings (notshown) and having suitable guides therein for maintaining the rack gear21 in a longitudinal path which is tangent with the spur gear to effectinterengagement between the rack gear 21 and the spur gear on the driveshaft 23.

The adjustment housing 43 is adapted to selectively adjust the forwardadvancement distance of the strip 3 into the sheet working machine 1 byadjusting the length of the reciprocating stroke of the rack gear 21. Inthe illustrated structure, the adjustment housing 43 has a slide member45 movably mounted therein. The slide member 45 is positioned to bemoved transversely to the-rotatable main shaft 16 and has an arm 46extending therefrom, with the arm 46 being substantially parallel withthe rotatable main shaft 16 and spaced therefrom. The one end of theconnecting portion 42 of the reciprocable rod 20 is rotatably mounted onthe arm 46.

Adjusting the transverse or lateral spacing between the arm 46 and therotatable main shaft 16 varies the length of the reciprocable stroke ofthe rack gear 21, thereby controlling the amount of the strip 3 movedinto the sheet working machine 1 by the feed roller 28. In theillustrated structure, a screw shaft 47 is operatively engaged with theslide member 45 and is turned by a knob 48 to move the slide member 45within the adjustment housing 43 for selectively adjusting the spacingbetween the arm 46 and the main shaft 16, thereby shortening orlengthening the forward advancement distance of the strip 3. A pointer49 is mounted on the slide member 45 and is movable along a scale 50mounted on the adjustment housing 43 to thereby visually display theamount of the forward advancement distance for strip 3 into the sheetworking machine 1.

In precisesheet working operations, particularly high speed operations,it is necessary that only a precise length or selected amount of thestrip 3 be fed into the sheet working machine 1 for processing thereintherefore, a plurality of spaced annular discs 51 are mounted on thefeed roller 28 and a brake shoe 52 is positioned to frictionally engageat least each of the end discs 51. It is essential that overruns andunderruns of the selected advancement distance of the strip 3 into thesheet working machine 1 be avoided, therefore, the brake shoes 52 areeach adjustable to control the frictional resistance applied to therespective discs 51, thereby providing braking means associated with thefeed roller 28 for stopping same after the selected forward advancementof the strip 3.

In the illustrated structure, a bracket 53 extends outwardly from theframe wall 12 for supporting a brake housing 54 having the shoes 52adjustably mounted therein. Adjustment screws 55 are mounted in thebrake housing 54 for engagement with each of the brake shoes 52 to moveeach brake shoe 52 toward or away from the respective disc 51 controlledthereby whereby the braking frictional resistance between the shoes andthe discs may be selectively controlled.

It has been found that friction between the brake shoes and the discs 51creates heat and that the heat effects variations in the braking actionof the brake shoes 52, thereby permitting underruns or overruns of thestrip 3 into the sheet working machine 1. Therefore, it is desirable tomaintain the discs 51 and the brake shoes 52 at a substantially constanttemperature to maintain a substantially constant braking action relativeto the feed roller 28. In the illustrated structure, an air blower 56 ismounted on the bracket 53 and the air blower 56 is positioned to directair streams around the annular discs 51 and the brake shoes 52 to coolsame and dissipate the heat developed by the braking action. The airstreams from the air blower 56 are directed substantially transverse tothe drive shaft 23 and feed roller 28.

The sheet working operations on the portion of the strip 3 which hasbeen fed into the sheet working machine are effected in response torotation of the main shaft 16. Eccentrics or cams are mounted on themain shaft 16 and a band or housing 57 is carried on and encloses eachof the eccentrics or cams. A pitman rod 58 has one end pivotallyconnected to each housing 57 and the other connected to a suitablehousing 59 mounted on a movable work or tool head 60 which has oppositeends guided within suitable guides mounted on the walls 11 and 12 forvertical reciprocation in response to rotation of the main shaft 16.

The tool head 60 is positioned above a stationary lower bed plate andtool holder 61 which has opposite ends suitably secured to the walls 11and 12. The upper tool head 60 and the lower tool holder 61 havecooperating punches and dies 62 and 63 respectively mounted thereon andpositioned for movement of the strip 3 therebetween whereby verticalreciprocation of the upper tool head 60 effects punching of the strip 3in response to rotation of the main shaft 16.

An upper knife blade 64 is adjustably mounted on a lower surface of theupper tool head 60 and a lower knife blade 65 is fixedly mounted on anupper surface of the lower bed plate and tool holder 61. The knifeblades 64 and 65 extend transversely to the path of the strip 3 throughthe machine 1 and are positioned in vertical alignment and overlap eachother along their full length whereby the cutting and punchingoperations are substantially simultaneously performed.

In the operation of the feed control apparatus 2 for accurateintermittent high speed feeding of the strip 3 into the sheet workingmachine 1, it is important that the strip delivering structure 5 bespaced from the feed roller 28 and that the strip 3 be unsupportedbetween the strip delivering structure 5 and the feed roller 28. Thedrive motor 7 operates at a substantially constant speed to deliver thestrip 3 to the guide bar 38 and the apron 35, whereby the strip 3 isfree to assume a curvilinear path of a length substantially greater thanthe straight line distance or spacing between the strip deliverystructure 5 and the guide bar 38 adjacent the outer edge of the apron35. Operation of the drive motor 14 and the drive motor 7 is suitablycoordinated whereby the feed roller 28 intermittently feeds the strip 3into the sheet working machine 1, but does not take up the slack in thestrip 3 which would straighten the curvilinear path and thereby placethe strip 3 in tension during the feeding thereof. The position of theslide member 45 is adjusted within the adjustment housing 43 forselectively adjusting the forward advancement distance of the strip 3and each of the selected forward advancement distances of the strip 3 isalways less than the difference between the length of the curvilinearpath and the straight line distance or spacing between the strip feedmeans 5 and the guide bar 38 adjacent the outer edge of the apron 35. Itis particularly noted that the feed roller 28 does not advance the strip3 far enough to pull the strip 3 into astraight line so as to place thestrip 3 in tension, because tension in the strip 3 would result in anunderrun or a lesser amount of the strip 3 being moved into the sheetworking machine 1 than desired. The guide bar 38, guide plates 39, apron35 and holding arms 30 and 31 cooperate to guide the strip 3 into firmengagement with the feed roller 28. The drive motor 14 of the sheetworking machine 1 and the feed control apparatus 2 rotates the mainshaft 16 thereby moving the reciprocable rod 20 through itsreciprocating stroke to rotate the drive shaft 23 whereby the overruningclutch 29 and the brake shoes 52 and discs 51 cooperate to insure thatonly a selected amount of the strip 3 is moved into the sheet workingmachine 1. The punches and dies 62 and 63 and the cutting blades orknives 64 and 65 are operated in response to rotation of the main shaft16 for performing desired sheet working operations on the portion of thestrip 3 advanced into the sheet working machine 1. The brake shoes 52are adjusted to provide the desired frictional engagement with therespective annular discs 51 to maintain a substantially constant brakingaction to stop the feed roller 28 after the precise selected forwardadvancement of the strip 3 into the sheet working machine 1. It ispreferable that the least amount of frictional engagement for positivestopping of the feed roller 28 be used because heat builds up rapidlywith tight brake shoes and the air blower 56 will be taxed to cool thebrakes sufficiently to prevent overruning.

The drive shaft 23 and the feed roller 28 thereon are rotated in afeeding direction in response to rotation of the main shaft 16. Thebrake shoes 52 and discs 51 cooperate to stop and hold the feed roller28 at the end of the feeding rotation thereof and the clutch 29 permitsthe drive shaft 23 to rotate in a reverse direction. After the feedroller 28 has stopped, the punches and dies 62 and 63 are operated topunch that portion of the strip 3 fed into the machine 1 by the priorrotation of the feed roller 28. The punches are withdrawn and the feedroller 28 is again rotated to move that portion of the strip 3 which waspreviously punched to a position beyond the cutting blades or knives 64and 65 thereby moving an adjacent portion of the strip 3 between thepunches and dies 62 and 63. After the feed roller 28 has stopped, thecutting blades or knives 64 and 65 are operated to cut ofl thepreviously punched portion of the strip 3 and simultaneously the punchesand dies 62 and 63 are operated to punch that portion of the strip 3therebetween.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A sheet working machine comprising:

a. a frame having a main shaft rotatably mounted thereon;

b. drive means operatively connected to said main shaft for rotatingsame at a substantially constant speed;

c. means operatively connected to said main shaft for intermittentlyfeeding a portion of a strip into a sheet working machine, each of saidportions of the strip having a precise selected length, saidintermittent feeding means including a drive shaft having a feed rollerrotatably mounted thereon, a reciprocable shaft movable transversely tosaid drive shaft in response to rotation of said main shaft,interengaging gear means on said drive shaft and on said reciprocableshaft for successively rotating said drive shaft a selected distance ina feeding direction and rotating same a like distance in a reversedirection, said feeding and reverse rotation being high speed, meansoperatively engaging said drive shaft and said feed roller for effectingonly feeding rotation of said feed roller;

d. means adjacent said feed roller for holding the strip in firmengagement with said feed roller;

e. brake means operatively connected to said feed roller for stoppingsame after the selected feeding rotation of said feed roller and thefeeding of the portion of the strip engaging same whereby each of theportions of the strip has a precise selected length; said brake meansincluding, a plurality of spaced annular discs connected to said feedroller; and a brake shoe for each of said discs, said brake shoes beingpositioned to frictionally engage said respective discs, each of saidbrake shoes being adjustable to a selected frictional resistance to beapplied to said respective disc;

f. means operatively connected to said main shaft for punching aplurality of holes in the portion of the strip fed into the sheetworking machine;

g. means operatively connected to said main shaft for cutting theportion from the strip after said portion is fed into the sheet workingmachine and punched therein whereby each portion cut from the strip isof the same size.

2. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 1 including:

a. means associated with said brake means for maintaining same at asubstantially constant temperature whereby the brake means maintains asubstantially constant braking action relative to said feed roller.

3. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said means for maintaining said brake means at a substantiallyconstant temperature comprises an air blower positioned to direct airstreams around said annular discs and brake shoes; and

b. said air streams are substantially transverse to said feed roller.

4. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 1 including:

a. means associated with said reciprocable shaft for selectivelyadjusting the feeding advancement distance of the strip by adjusting thedistance of feeding and reverse rotation of said drive shaft.

5. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said meansfor adjusting the feeding advancement distance of the strip includes:

a. a housing mounted on said main shaft for rotation therewith;

b. a slide member movably mounted within said housing,

said slide member being movable transversely to said main shaft;

d. means on said housing for adjusting the spacing between said arm andsaid main shaft; and

e. means associated with said reciprocable shaft and said arm forrotatably mounting said reciprocable shaft on said arm of said slidemember whereby rotation of said main shaft effects reciprocation of saidreciprocable shaft and adjusting the spacing between said arm and saidmain shaft adjusts the length of the stroke of said reciprocable shaft.

6. A sheet working machine comprising:

. a frame having a main shaft rotatably mounted thereon;

b. drive means operatively connected to said main shaft for rotatingsame at a substantially constant speed;

. a drive shaft having a feed roller rotatably mounted for engaging astrip for feeding into a sheet working portion, thereon;

d. a reciprocable shaft operatively connected to said main shaft andmovable transversely to said drive shaft in response to rotation of saidmain shaft;

e. interengaging gear means on said drive shaft and on said reciprocableshaft for successively rotating said drive shaft a selected distance ina feeding direction and rotating same a like distance in a reversedirection, said feeding and reverse rotation being high speed;

an overrunning clutch means operatively connecting said drive shaft andsaid feed roller for effecting only feeding rotation of said feedroller;

g. brake means operatively connected relative to said feed roller forstopping rotation thereof at the end of each feeding rotation;

h. means cooling said brake means whereby it maintains a substantiallyconstant braking action relative to said feed roller;

i. means adjacent said feed roller for holding a strip in firmengagement with said feed roller whereby a portion of the strip is fedinto the sheet working portion of each feeding rotation of said feedroller, each of said sheet portions intermittently fed into the sheetworking portion having a selected precise length;

j. means operatively connected to said main shaft for work on theportion of the strip fed into the sheet working machine;

k. means operatively connected to said main shaft for cutting theportion from the strip after said portion is fed into the sheet workingmachine and worked therein whereby each portion cut from the strip is ofthe same size.

7. The sheet working machine as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said brakemeans includes:

a. a plurality of spaced annular discs connected to said feed roller;

b. a brake shoe for each of said discs, said brake shoes beingpositioned to frictionally engage said respective discs, each of saidbrake shoes being adjustable to a selected frictional resistance to beapplied to said respective disc; and

c. an air blower positioned to direct air streams around said annulardiscs and brake shoes to maintain same at a substantially constanttemperature thereby maintaining a substantially constant breaking actionrelative to said feed roller.

8. sheet working machine as set forth in Claim 7 wherein:

a. said frictional resistance between said brake shoes and discs is of amagnitude to instantly stop said feed roller at the end of said feedingrotation thereof; and

b. said overrunning clutch has the elements thereof in operativeengagement with said feed roller and said drive shaft to instantlyovercome said frictional resistance at the start of said feedingrotation of said feed roller.

9. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 8 includa. meansspaced from said feed roller for feeding the strip toward said feedroller at a speed coordinated with the speed of said feeding rotation ofsaid feed roller to maintain slack in the strip after each intermittentfeeding of the portion of the strip, said strip being unsupportedbetween said feed roller and said means for feeding the strip toward thefeed roller; and

b. means adjacent said feed roller for receiving the strip and guidingsame into engagement with said feed roller and with said means forholding the strip in firm engagement with said feed roller.

10. A sheet working machine comprising:

a. a frame having a main shaft rotatably mounted thereon;

b. drive means operatively connected to said main shaft for rotatingsame at a substantially constant speed;

c. means including a drive shaft operatively connected to said mainshaft for intermittently feeding a portion of a strip into a sheetworking machine, each of said portions of the strip having a preciseselected length;

d. said drive shaft having a feed roller rotatably mounted thereon;

e. means operatively engaging said drive shaft and said feed roller forefiecting only feeding rotation of said feed roller;

f. means adjacent said feed roller for holding the strip in firmengagement with said feed roller;

g. brake means operatively connected to said feed roller for stoppingsame after the selected feeding rotation of said feed roller and thefeeding of the portion of the strip engaging same whereby each of theportions of the strip has a precise selected length, said brake meansincluding, a plurality of spaced annular discs connected to said feedroller, and a brake shoe for each of said discs, said brake shoes beingpositioned to frictionally engage said respective discs, each of saidbrake shoes being adjustable to a selected frictional resistance to beapplied to said respective disc;

h. means operatively connected to said main shaft for punching aplurality of holes in the portion of the strip fed into the sheetworking machine;

i. means operatively connected to said main shaft for cutting theportion from the strip after said portion is fed into the sheet workingmachine and punched therein whereby each portion cut from the strip isof the same size.

1 l. A sheet working machine as set forth in claim 10 including:

a. means for cooling said brake means to maintain a substantiallyconstant operating temperature whereby the brake means maintains asubstantially constant braking action relative to said feed roller.

1. A sheet working machine comprising: a. a frame having a main shaftrotatably mounted thereon; b. drive means operatively connected to saidmain shaft for rotating same at a substantially constant speed; c. meansoperatively connected to said main shaft for intermittently feeding aportion of a strip into a sheet working machine, each of said portionsof the strip having a precise selected length, said intermittent feedingmeans including a drive shaft having a feed roller rotatably mountedthereon, a reciprocable shaft movable transversely to said drive shaftin response to rotation of said main shaft, interengaging gear means onsaid drive shaft and on said reciprocable shaft for successivelyrotating said drive shaft a selected distance in a feeding direction androtating same a like distance in a reverse direction, said feeding andreverse rotation being high speed, means operatively engaging said driveshaft and said feed roller for effecting Only feeding rotation of saidfeed roller; d. means adjacent said feed roller for holding the strip infirm engagement with said feed roller; e. brake means operativelyconnected to said feed roller for stopping same after the selectedfeeding rotation of said feed roller and the feeding of the portion ofthe strip engaging same whereby each of the portions of the strip has aprecise selected length; said brake means including, a plurality ofspaced annular discs connected to said feed roller; and a brake shoe foreach of said discs, said brake shoes being positioned to frictionallyengage said respective discs, each of said brake shoes being adjustableto a selected frictional resistance to be applied to said respectivedisc; f. means operatively connected to said main shaft for punching aplurality of holes in the portion of the strip fed into the sheetworking machine; g. means operatively connected to said main shaft forcutting the portion from the strip after said portion is fed into thesheet working machine and punched therein whereby each portion cut fromthe strip is of the same size.
 2. The sheet working machine as set forthin claim 1 including: a. means associated with said brake means formaintaining same at a substantially constant temperature whereby thebrake means maintains a substantially constant braking action relativeto said feed roller.
 3. The sheet working machine as set forth in claim2 wherein: a. said means for maintaining said brake means at asubstantially constant temperature comprises an air blower positioned todirect air streams around said annular discs and brake shoes; and b.said air streams are substantially transverse to said feed roller. 4.The sheet working machine as set forth in claim 1 including: a. meansassociated with said reciprocable shaft for selectively adjusting thefeeding advancement distance of the strip by adjusting the distance offeeding and reverse rotation of said drive shaft.
 5. The sheet workingmachine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for adjusting thefeeding advancement distance of the strip includes: a. a housing mountedon said main shaft for rotation therewith; b. a slide member movablymounted within said housing, said slide member being movabletransversely to said main shaft; c. an arm extending from said slidemember, said arm being substantially parallel with said main shaft andlaterally spaced therefrom; d. means on said housing for adjusting thespacing between said arm and said main shaft; and e. means associatedwith said reciprocable shaft and said arm for rotatably mounting saidreciprocable shaft on said arm of said slide member whereby rotation ofsaid main shaft effects reciprocation of said reciprocable shaft andadjusting the spacing between said arm and said main shaft adjusts thelength of the stroke of said reciprocable shaft.
 6. A sheet workingmachine comprising: a. a frame having a main shaft rotatably mountedthereon; b. drive means operatively connected to said main shaft forrotating same at a substantially constant speed; c. a drive shaft havinga feed roller rotatably mounted for engaging a strip for feeding into asheet working portion, thereon; d. a reciprocable shaft operativelyconnected to said main shaft and movable transversely to said driveshaft in response to rotation of said main shaft; e. interengaging gearmeans on said drive shaft and on said reciprocable shaft forsuccessively rotating said drive shaft a selected distance in a feedingdirection and rotating same a like distance in a reverse direction, saidfeeding and reverse rotation being high speed; f. an overrunning clutchmeans operatively connecting said drive shaft and said feed roller foreffecting only feeding rotation of said feed roller; g. brake meansoperatively connected relative to said feed roller for stopping rotationthereof at the end of each feeding rotation; h. means cooling said brakemeans whereby it maintains a substantially constant braking actionrelative to said feed roller; i. means adjacent said feed roller forholding a strip in firm engagement with said feed roller whereby aportion of the strip is fed into the sheet working portion of eachfeeding rotation of said feed roller, each of said sheet portionsintermittently fed into the sheet working portion having a selectedprecise length; j. means operatively connected to said main shaft forwork on the portion of the strip fed into the sheet working machine; k.means operatively connected to said main shaft for cutting the portionfrom the strip after said portion is fed into the sheet working machineand worked therein whereby each portion cut from the strip is of thesame size.
 7. The sheet working machine as set forth in Claim 6 whereinsaid brake means includes: a. a plurality of spaced annular discsconnected to said feed roller; b. a brake shoe for each of said discs,said brake shoes being positioned to frictionally engage said respectivediscs, each of said brake shoes being adjustable to a selectedfrictional resistance to be applied to said respective disc; and c. anair blower positioned to direct air streams around said annular discsand brake shoes to maintain same at a substantially constant temperaturethereby maintaining a substantially constant breaking action relative tosaid feed roller.
 8. sheet working machine as set forth in Claim 7wherein: a. said frictional resistance between said brake shoes anddiscs is of a magnitude to instantly stop said feed roller at the end ofsaid feeding rotation thereof; and b. said overrunning clutch has theelements thereof in operative engagement with said feed roller and saiddrive shaft to instantly overcome said frictional resistance at thestart of said feeding rotation of said feed roller.
 9. The sheet workingmachine as set forth in claim 8 including: a. means spaced from saidfeed roller for feeding the strip toward said feed roller at a speedcoordinated with the speed of said feeding rotation of said feed rollerto maintain slack in the strip after each intermittent feeding of theportion of the strip, said strip being unsupported between said feedroller and said means for feeding the strip toward the feed roller; andb. means adjacent said feed roller for receiving the strip and guidingsame into engagement with said feed roller and with said means forholding the strip in firm engagement with said feed roller.
 10. A sheetworking machine comprising: a. a frame having a main shaft rotatablymounted thereon; b. drive means operatively connected to said main shaftfor rotating same at a substantially constant speed; c. means includinga drive shaft operatively connected to said main shaft forintermittently feeding a portion of a strip into a sheet workingmachine, each of said portions of the strip having a precise selectedlength; d. said drive shaft having a feed roller rotatably mountedthereon; e. means operatively engaging said drive shaft and said feedroller for effecting only feeding rotation of said feed roller; f. meansadjacent said feed roller for holding the strip in firm engagement withsaid feed roller; g. brake means operatively connected to said feedroller for stopping same after the selected feeding rotation of saidfeed roller and the feeding of the portion of the strip engaging samewhereby each of the portions of the strip has a precise selected length,said brake means including, a plurality of spaced annular discsconnected to said feed roller, and a brake shoe for each of said discs,said brake shoes being positioned to frictionally engage said respectivediscs, each of said brake shoes being adjustable to a selectedfrictional resistance to be applied to said respective disc; h. meansoperatively connected to said main shaft for punching a plurality ofholes in the portion of the strip fed into the sheet working machine; i.means operatively connected to said main shaft for cutting the portionfrom the strip after said portion is fed into the sheet working machineand punched therein whereby each portion cut from the strip is of thesame size.
 11. A sheet working machine as set forth in claim 10including: a. means for cooling said brake means to maintain asubstantially constant operating temperature whereby the brake meansmaintains a substantially constant braking action relative to said feedroller.